Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) "is one of two bodies in the inter-American system for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commission has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The other human rights body is the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which is located in San José, Costa Rica.

"The IACHR is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS). Its mandate is found in the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The IACHR represents all of the member States of the OAS. It has seven members who act independently, without representing any particular country. The members of the IACHR are elected by the General Assembly of the OAS...

"The inter-American human rights system was born with the adoption of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man in Bogotá, Colombia in April of 1948. The American Declaration was the first international human rights instrument of a general nature. The IACHR was created in 1959 and held its first session in 1960. Since that time and until 1997, the Commission has held 97 sessions, some of them at its headquarters, others in different countries of the Americas." 

Criticism

 * Joe Emersberger, "IACHR Rehashes Debunked Claims about Venezuela", Znet, May 11, 2010.

Contact
URL: http://www.cidh.oas.org

Related Sourcewatch

 * Tom J. Farer - president 1980-82
 * Juan E. Mendez - president 2002-03
 * José Zalaquett - president 2003-04
 * Robert K. Goldman - former president
 * Claudio M. Grossman - Former President
 * Victor Abramovich - Commissioner
 * Roberto Alvarez - worked for them in 1970s
 * Paulo Sergio Pinheiro - member 2003-07